U.S. patent number 5,099,541 [Application Number 07/640,610] was granted by the patent office on 1992-03-31 for blackboard eraser apparatus.
Invention is credited to Doyle M. Tressler.
United States Patent |
5,099,541 |
Tressler |
March 31, 1992 |
Blackboard eraser apparatus
Abstract
An apparatus including a lid removably mounted relative to an
underlying container, wherein the lid includes a first and second
trough spaced juxtaposed to a central trough, wherein the central
trough includes an apertured floor, and the first and second
troughs are each arranged for selective securement of fluid
therewithin. A sponge assembly includes a plate member to overlie
the first and second troughs mounting a sponge to the bottom
surface of the plate member. The sponge is defined by a sponge
height less than a first trough height of the first and second
troughs, wherein a second trough height of the central trough is
less than the sponge height to permit compression of the sponge
within the central trough and removal of excess fluid therefrom. A
serpentine handle is mounted to a top surface of the support plate
for enhanced manual grasping of the eraser member.
Inventors: |
Tressler; Doyle M. (Mill Hall,
PA) |
Family
ID: |
24568955 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/640,610 |
Filed: |
January 14, 1991 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/257.05;
15/104.92; 15/244.1; 15/260 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B43L
21/04 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B43L
21/00 (20060101); B43L 21/04 (20060101); B43L
021/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;15/257.05,260,244.1,104.92 ;401/121,123,125,118
;220/574,575,556,521,570,DIG.6 ;206/229 ;434/417 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
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0404890 |
|
Dec 1909 |
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FR |
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6717504 |
|
Oct 1968 |
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NL |
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0177958 |
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Apr 1922 |
|
GB |
|
0365321 |
|
Jan 1932 |
|
GB |
|
1036428 |
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Jul 1966 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Hornsby; Harvey C.
Assistant Examiner: Alexander; Reginald L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Gilden; Leon
Claims
What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by Letters
Patent of the United States is as follows:
1. A blackboard eraser apparatus comprising:
a support plate lid, the support lid including a plate lid top
surface, the support plate lid removably mounted relative to an
underlying container, and
the support plate lid including a first trough spaced from a second
trough, and
a central trough positioned medially of the first and second
troughs, and
an eraser assembly selectively and removably mounted within either
of the first and second troughs, and
wherein the central trough includes an apertured floor, and a
central trough rim formed about the central trough, and the
apertured floor spaced below an upper terminal end of the central
trough rim a second predetermined trough height, and the first and
the second trough include a respective first fluid impermeable
trough floor and a second fluid impermeable trough floor, wherein
the first trough floor and the second trough floor are spaced below
the top surface a first predetermined trough height greater than
the second predetermined trough height, and each eraser assembly
includes an eraser plate, the eraser plate defined by a second
predetermined length and a second predetermined width, wherein the
first trough and the second trough are each defined by a first
predetermined height and a first predetermined width, wherein the
second predetermined height is greater than the first predetermined
height and the second predetermined width is greater than the first
predetermined width, and a sponge member fixedly mounted to a
bottom surface of an eraser plate complementarily received within
each respective first and second trough, and the sponge member
defined by a predetermined sponge height less than the first
predetermined height and greater than the second predetermined
height, wherein at least one of said troughs includes a
predetermined quantity of fluid therewithin to permit manual
compression of the sponge member within the central trough upon
removal of an eraser assembly from one of said first and second
troughs and directing of said at least one eraser assembly into the
central trough, and
wherein each eraser plate includes an eraser handle fixedly mounted
to top surface thereof, wherein each eraser handle includes an
erase handle side wall defined by a continuous serpentine
configuration to enhance manual grasping thereof.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to blackboard eraser apparatus, and
more particularly pertains to a new and improved blackboard eraser
apparatus wherein the same provides convenience of a fluid for
cleaning of blackboard structure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
To permit cleaning of blackboard eraser surfaces, it is desirable
to direct a cleaning fluid, such as water, thereto. Chalk and chalk
dust accumulated upon a blackboard surface is not frequently
cleaned sufficiently by mere application of a dry eraser. The
invention attempts to overcome deficiencies of the prior art by
providing an eraser structure to permit use of at least one fluid
applicator eraser for enhanced cleaning of a blackboard
surface.
Prior art structure may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 905,450 to
McAllister wherein a container includes a continuous apertured
floor to permit residue chalk dust to be received within the
container structure of the organization.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,237 to Smith is a chalk dust remover permitting
a further example of continuously apertured floor for mounting of
an eraser therewithin to receive chalk dust therethrough.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,594 to Chen sets forth a blackboard eraser
organization for removal of dust from an eraser structure utilizing
roller structure for this purpose.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,549,327 to Johnson sets forth a chalk dust
receptacle structure for scraping of an eraser and and underlying
container to receive the chalk dust therewithin.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,596,059 to Lee sets forth a plurality of rollers
arranged for removal of chalk dust from eraser structures.
As such, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need
for a new and improved blackboard eraser apparatus as set forth by
the instant invention which addresses both the problems of ease of
use as well as effectiveness in construction and in this respect,
the present invention substantially fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types
of blackboard eraser apparatus now present in the prior art, the
present invention provides a blackboard eraser apparatus wherein
the same utilizes a fluid-filled trough structure to direct fluid
for absorption within a sponge eraser and the sponge eraser
arranged for dispelling of excess fluid utilizing a central trough.
As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will
be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new
and improved blackboard eraser apparatus which has all the
advantages of the prior art blackboard eraser apparatus and none of
the disadvantages.
To attain this, the present invention provides an apparatus
including a lid removably mounted relative to an underlying
container, wherein the lid includes a first and second trough
spaced juxtaposed to a central trough, wherein the central trough
includes an apertured floor, and the first and second troughs are
each arranged for selective securement of fluid therewithin. A
sponge assembly includes a plate member to overlie the first and
second troughs mounting a sponge to the bottom surface of the plate
member. The sponge is defined by a sponge height less than a first
trough height of the first and second troughs, wherein a second
trough height of the central trough is less than the sponge height
to permit compression of the sponge within the central trough and
removal of excess fluid therefrom. A serpentine handle is mounted
to a top surface of the support plate for enhanced manual grasping
of the eraser member.
My invention resides not in any one of these features per se, but
rather in the particular combination of all of them herein
disclosed and claimed and it is distinguished from the prior art in
this particular combination of all of its structures for the
functions specified.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important
features of the invention in order that the detailed description
thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that
the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.
There are, of course, additional features of the invention that
will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject
matter of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will
appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is
based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of
other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several
purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that
the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the
present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and
especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art
who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to
determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence
of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is
neither intended to define the invention of the application, which
is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to
the scope of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new
and improved blackboard eraser apparatus which has all the
advantages of the prior art blackboard eraser apparatus and none of
the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and
improved blackboard eraser apparatus which may be easily and
efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new
and improved blackboard eraser apparatus which is of a durable and
reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new
and improved blackboard eraser apparatus which is susceptible of a
low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor,
and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to
the consuming public, thereby making such blackboard eraser
apparatus economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
new and improved blackboard eraser apparatus which provides in the
apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages
thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages
normally associated therewith.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new
and improved blackboard eraser apparatus wherein the same utilizes
at least one fluid-filled trough in association with a central
trough to permit removal of excess fluid by the central trough for
enhanced cleaning of a blackboard surface of chalk.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the
various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are
pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming
a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the
invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects
attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying
drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated
preferred embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood and objects other than
those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is
given to the following detailed description thereof. Such
description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is an orthographic top view of the instant invention.
FIG. 2 is an orthographic side view of the instant invention.
FIG. 3 is an isometric illustration of the instant invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 to
3 thereof, a new and improved blackboard eraser apparatus embodying
the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally
designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.
More specifically, the blackboard eraser apparatus 10 of the
instant invention essentially comprises a support plate lid 11
including a planar lid top surface 11a. The lid 11 is removably
mounted relative to an underlying container 12 that includes a
container floor 12a spaced below the top surface 11a. A first
trough 13 and a second trough 14 are formed within the support
plate lid 11 extending below the top surface 11a, and each include
a respective first and second trough fluid impermeable floor 18 and
19, wherein each trough floor is positioned below the top surface
11a a first predetermined height. Each trough further includes
trough side walls that define a parallelepiped configuration of the
first predetermined trough height and are each defined by a first
predetermined length and a first predetermined width. A central
trough 15 is positioned medially of the first and second troughs 13
and 14, and include an apertured floor 16, and a central trough rim
25 defined by a second predetermined trough height. The second
predetermined trough height is less than the first predetermined
trough height and less than a predetermined sponge height defined
by a sponge member 23 of an eraser assembly 17. The eraser assembly
17 includes an eraser plate 20 integrally mounting an eraser handle
21 to a top surface of the eraser plate 20, wherein the eraser
handle 21 is defined by a serpentine continuous side wall 22.
Further it should be noted that the eraser plate 20 is defined by a
second predetermined length greater than the first predetermined
length and a second predetermined width greater than the first
predetermined width to position the eraser plate 20 overlying each
respective first and second trough 13 and 14 to limit penetration
of the sponge member 23 within each respective first and second
trough 13 and 14. It should be further noted that the sponge height
is less than the first predetermined trough height, wherein a water
level 24 (see FIG. 3) contained within at least one of the first
and second troughs 13 and 14 is arranged for saturating the sponge
member 23 with water or suitable cleaning fluid for effecting
erasure of an associated blackboard surface (not shown), wherein
blackboard type surfaces are of conventional construction well
known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
In use, at least one of a plurality of eraser members 17 positioned
within the first and second troughs 13 and 14 effect fluid
saturation of the associated sponge member 23. Excess fluid from
each sponge member is removed therefrom by manually compressing the
sponge member 23 within the central trough 15 against the apertured
floor 16, wherein the apertured floor 16 is spaced above the
container floor 12a, whereupon such excess fluid is received within
the container 12. Subsequent filling of the container 12 by removal
of the lid 11 from the container 12 and permits emptying of the
container 12 as required. As the second trough height is less than
the predetermined sponge height, compression of the sponge member
23 is effected during such manual compression of the sponge within
the central trough 15. If desired, one of the troughs 13 or 14 may
be maintained and devoid of fluid to provide alternate use of a dry
eraser in association with a wet eraser, wherein at least one of
the troughs are provided with cleansing fluid, in a manner as noted
above.
As to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention,
the same should be apparent from the above disclosure, and
accordingly no further discussion relative to the manner of usage
and operation of the instant invention shall be provided.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized
that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the
invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form,
function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed
readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all
equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and
described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by
the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications
and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is
not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and
operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable
modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within
the scope of the invention.
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